Yankees sign All-Star catcher McCann

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star catcher Brian McCann completed his $85 million, five-year contract with the York Yankees on Tuesday in what the team called a “significant improvement to a key position.”

The deal includes a full no-trade provision, meaning he cannot be dealt without his consent. The seven-time All-Star is to be introduced at a news conference Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

McCann receives $17 million in each of the next five seasons, and the Yankees have a $15 million option for 2019 with no buyout. The option becomes McCann’s if he has at least 1,000 plate appearances combined in 2017 and 2018, has at least 90 starts at catcher in 2018 and does not end the 2018 season on the disabled list.

His agreement raises the Yankees’ luxury tax payroll to $116.4 million for nine players. The Yankees hope to get under the $189 million tax threshold next season, which includes about $177 million for salaries for the 40-man roster.

McCann, who turns 30 in February, hit .256 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs in 102 games this year, when he missed the first month following offseason surgery on his right shoulder. He has a .277 average in nine big league seasons with 176 homers and 661 RBIs.

Following the departure of Russell Martin last offseason, Yankees catchers combined for a .213 average, eight homers and 43 RBIs, according to STATS, down from .220, 22 and 64 in 2012.

“We feel we have made a significant improvement to a key position, while adding a high-character presence to our clubhouse,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “Our work this offseason has just begun, but we feel this is an important step towards what will be an exciting and rewarding 2014 season for our fans.”